This memorial commemorates 69 Officers and men from the Cheshire Regiment, all of whom were killed in November 1914, principally during the Battalion's action during the First Battle of Ypres. In addition there are 5 members of the 1st/6th battalion, who joined the 1st Battalion as reinforcements in December 1914.

The Menin Gate Memorial commemorates 54,326 British and Commonwealth soldiers (except New Zealand) who fell in the fighting in the Ypres salient from November 1914 and who have no known grave.

Names are listed on the memorial by Regiments in order of precedence, under the title of each Regiment by rank, and under each rank alphabetically.

1st Battalion, The Cheshire Regiment

Officers, N.C.O.s & Men of the 1st Battalion, Commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial

All of the men named below were awarded the 1914 Star (with "clasps and roses"), the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

... about how to get to the Menin Gate Memorial and other information

Click on image to see full medal set

Soldiers "Known Unto God"

In addition to the soldiers detailed above, during 1914 many reinforcements of Officers and men joined the Battalion to replace those lost (killed, wounded or captured) during the major engagements at Audregnies, La Bassee and Nonne Boschon.

70 of those replacements were killed in action or died of wounds and are also commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial.

They are named below and by clicking the link you can view their details of when they died.

Every night at 8.00 p.m. the noise of traffic ceases and a stillness descends over the memorial when up to six members of the regular buglers from the local volunteer Fire Brigade step into the roadway under the memorial arch. They play Last Post, followed by a short silence and then play Reveille. With the exception of the Second World War years this has happened every night since 1929, having first been played on 1 July 1928.

... about the Menin Gate Last Post ceremony

Click to view Map of Ypres Salient

During November the 1st Battalion was involved in what became officially known as the

First Battle of Ypres.

This was by now the third stage:

The Battle of Langemarck - 21st - 24th October 1914

The Battle of Gheluvelt - 29th - 31st October 1914

The Battle of Nonne Bosschen - 11th November 1914

However, for the Battalion the days leading up to the 11th proved more damaging. Captain Pollock-Holsoll and 2nd Lieutenant Anderson were killed leading a counter-attack against the enemy who had penetrated the front lines, and although 25 prisoners were taken the Battalion lost 36 NCOs and men killed or wounded.

On the 21st November, as the Battle drew to a close, the War Diary records that since going into the trenches 35 men had been killed and 99 wounded. The number of missing was not known. The following day the Battalion withdrew to Locre and two days later on to Bailleul.

On the 11th itself the War Diary notes that Enemy appeared to massing in a wood South of the Battalion's position but their shells scattered them and they were easily repulsed by rifle fire, with heavy casualties to them. It is understood that the Battalion's rifle fire did much damage to the enemy attacking the Gordon Highlanders on the left flank.

The 14th was another day of heavy casualties. 30 NCOs and men were killed wounded or missing as the Battalion retired from the front line trenches under heavy shell fire to trenches 150 yards in the rear.

The Menin Gate Memorial lists the names of 3 Officers and 66 NCOs and men of the 1st Battalion, plus 5 men of the 1/6th Battalion who reinforced the 1st in December, all of whom have no known grave.

However, of the 74 men commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, FIVE were of the original 1st Battalion who sailed for France in August, the others had arrived later as reinforcements. These four had survived the Battles at Audregnies, La Bassée and First Ypres, only to be killed later in the War.

Click the names on the left to read more about these four men from the original 1st Battalion Old Contemptibles.

Gradually all British troops were replaced around Ypres by the French and November 22nd became the 'official' end of the First Battle of Ypres.

Sergeant 7116 Thomas Edward BEBBINGTON (A.R.)

Date of Death:

18 April 1915 (Killed in Action)

Panel No:

Panel 19

Unit:

n/k

Age:

32

Personal History:

Thomas was born in the September quarter 1883 at Wrenbury, Cheshire, the eldest son of William (a Railway Labourer) and Hannah Bebbington, of 51 Martin St., Crewe. He had an older sister, Annie, and three younger brothers, William, George and Frank. In the June quarter 1897 William died and Hannah re-married, Edward Hamilton, in December quarter 1898.

At the time of his enlistment he was employed as a Labourer. He was 5' 4" tall (1.63 m.), weighed 138 lbs. (9 stone 12lbs) had a 'fresh' complexion, grey eyes and light brown hair. His stated religion was Church of England.

In the 22 June 1907 Thomas married Marcella McKelvey at St Paul's Church, Crewe and they lived at 34 Sandbach St., Crewe, Cheshire. After his death she was awarded a pension of £1.0s.6d (£1.03) for herself and the three children, Harry, Thomas and William J.

Military History:

Thomas enlisted into the 2nd Battalion at Crewe, Cheshire on 11th March 1903 aged (stated) 20 yrs 11 mths. Although this does not coincide with his birth records - see above. He was already serving in the 4th Bn. which had seen service in the South African War. His terms of service were 3 + 9 (i.e. 3 years active service + 9 years reserve). He received two posting in 1903 and 04, initially to Aldershot and on 8th October 1904 to Coloba, India. Thomas was transferred to the Army Reserve List 'A' on 26 April 1906 and Reserve List 'B' a year later.

His Medal Index Card shows that as a reservist he was recalled to the Regiment at the outbreak of War but did not enter France with the rest of the Battalion on 16th August 1914, following on five days later. It is likely that he was one of the 90 reinforcement who joined the 1st Battalion under Lt Hartford at 4 p.m. on 5th September (War Diary).

He was promoted to (paid) Lance Corporal on 11 September 1914; Acting Corporal on 3 October 1914 and Acting Sergeant on 27 November 1914. In December he spent two weeks in Hospital suffering from rheumatism.

He was killed in action on 18 April 1915, during the Second Battle of Ypres. Including his reserve service he had spent a total of 12 years 43 days with the Regiment.

Private 10265 James HOROBIN

Date of Death:

7 May 1915 (Killed in Action)

Panel No:

Panel 22

Unit:

'D' Company

Age:

21

Personal History:

According to his enlistment papers James was born on 6th December 1893 at Ancoats, Manchester, the fifth (of six) children of Joseph and Catherine Horobin. He had two older sisters, Mary and Catherine, two older brothers, Joseph and Richard, and a younger brother, Thomas. (After the War the family was living at 4 Wragby Street, Queen's Road, Miles Platting, Manchester.)

At the time of his enlistment he was employed as a Coal Miner at New Moss Colliery, where he had worked for about 3 months. Before that he worked at the Bradford Colliery, Manchester, for about 9 months. He was 5' 3" tall (1.61 m.), weighed 130 lbs. (9 stone 4lbs) had a 'pale' complexion, grey-blue eyes and brown hair. His stated religion was Church of England.

There is no record of James marrying or having any children.

Military History:

James enlisted into the 1st Battalion at Hyde, Cheshire on 14th November 1913 aged 19 yrs 333 days. His terms of service were 7 + 5 (i.e. 7 years active service + 5 years reserve). He was initially posted to Chester on 19th November 1913, but at some stage would have to transferred to Londonderry to join the rest of the Battalion.

His Medal Index Card shows that as a regular soldier he moved with the Battalion at the outbreak of War and entered France with the rest of the Battalion on 16th August 1914. He fought on the right of the line at Audregnies under Captain Dugmore and also survived the actions at La Bassée and Nonne Bosschen (First Ypres).

He was killed in action on 7 May 1915, during the Second Battle of Ypres at a "Place not stated". Although the Battalion's attack on Hill 60 was on the 5th, James and 17 of his fellow soldiers were killed in action on the 7th. In total he had served for 1 year 175 days with the Regiment (275 days in England and 265 in France).

Corporal 6589 Richard HUSON

Date of Death:

8 May 1915 (Killed in Action)

Panel No:

Panel 21

Unit:

'A' Company

Age:

31

Personal History:

Richard was born in 1893 at Liverpool, the eldest son of John (Seaman) and Mary (Charwoman). He had an older sister, Elizabeth, and a younger brother, John.

At the time of his enlistment he was employed as a General Labourer and was living at 8/2 Lower Chalk Street, Liverpool.

There is no record of Richard marrying or having any children.

Military History:

Richard enlisted in the Cheshire Regiment at Liverpool, from his service number probably in June 1901, aged 18. Currently his Army records are unavailable, probably destroyed in Second World War bombing.

As a reservist he was recalled to the 1st Battalion at the outbreak of War and his Medal Card shows he entered France 16 August. He fought under Captain Dyer on the left flank of the Battalion's action at Audregnies on 24th August and also survived the actions at La Bassée and Nonne Bosschen (First Ypres).

He was killed in action on 8 May 1915, during the Second Battle of Ypres. Although the Battalion's attack on Hill 60 was on the 5th, Richard was one of 6 killed in action killed in action on the 8th.

Private 10108 James KINGSTON

Date of Death:

7 May 1915 (Killed in Action)

Panel No:

Panel 22

Unit:

'B' Company

Age:

20

Personal History:

James was born in the September quarter 1894, the eldest son of James and Harriett Kingston of Ardwick, Manchester (18 Garden Street, in 1901 - Census: RG 13/3674). He had a younger brother, George. (He also had stepbrothers from his mother's first marriage.)

There is no record of James marrying or having any children.

Military History:

James enlisted in the Cheshire Regiment at Chester, from his service number probably in June 1913, aged 16. Currently his Army records are unavailable, probably destroyed in Second World War bombing.

His Medal Index Card shows that as a regular soldier he moved with the Battalion at the outbreak of War and entered France with the rest of the Battalion on 16th August 1914. He fought on the left of the line at Audregnies under Captain J L Shore and also survived the actions at La Bassée and Nonne Bosschen (First Ypres).

He was killed in action on 7 May 1915, during the Second Battle of Ypres. Although the Battalion's attack on Hill 60 was on the 5th, James and 17 of his fellow soldiers were killed in action on the 7th.

Lieutenant Norman Alexander NEWSON

Date of Death:

18 February 1915 (Killed in Action)

Panel No:

Panel 19

Unit:

3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion.

Attached: 'B' Company

Age:

23

Personal History:

Norman was born in the December quarter 1891 at Nevern Mansions, Kensington, London, the younger son of Arthur Bell (Architect) and Hester Kate Newson. He had an older brother, Thomas A. (1891 Census RG 12/33) In 1911 he was living at home at Danehurst, Sylvann Way, Bognor, and gave his occupation as 'Student'. (Census RG 14/5377.)

Military History:

Currently Norman's Army records are unavailable, probably destroyed in Second World War bombing.

His Medal Index Card shows that as a Officer in the Special Reserve (3rd) Battalion he was recalled and moved with the Battalion at the outbreak of War and entered France with the rest of the Battalion on 16th August 1914. He fought on the left of the line at Audregnies under Captain J L Shore and also survived the actions at La Bassée and Nonne Bosschen (First Ypres).

During the retreat from Mons, on 1st September he had been slightly wounded. During a rearguard action at Crepy he had refused to retire without C.O.'s orders even when troops on his right and left had retired and when he found all had gone and in an unknown direction he went on a civilian cycle in search of information and was wounded by the Ulhans. Nevertheless, he got his men away safely in spite of his wound and led them 12 miles to the next billet at Nanteuil where he transferred to 14th Field Ambulance.